Daniel Berger hit an opening round of nine under to take a three-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 32-year-old has suffered a run of injuries – including a back issue which sidelined him for 18 months – and fractured a finger at the BMW Championship in August last year.

But having returned to full fitness, the American made six birdies on the back nine on his way to shooting a 63 – one short of the Bay Hill course record.

“I think the biggest thing for me is just getting in a bit of a rhythm,” said Berger. “When you come back [from injury], you are just kind of getting back into the flow of things and getting into your routine.

“I have really played not that poorly, I just haven’t had the results. You just kind of keep doing the same things and good things will come, so that’s kind of where I feel like I am at.”

A double bogey on the 13th hole, followed by dropped shots on the 14th and 18th, proved costly for Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy as he had to settle for a level-par round.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is at two under, marking the first time the four-time major winner has hit better than a 72 in his past three tournaments.

“I think being satisfied is always a bit of a stretch in golf,” said Scheffler.

“I feel like I did some really good things.

“I felt like I made a couple mistakes that I shouldn’t have, but overall I did some really good stuff out there. Anything under par on this golf course is a decent score.”

Sweden’s Ludvig Aaberg sunk a long eagle putt on 12 as a strong finish left him three shots behind Berger on six under.

Former Open champion Collin Morikawa also hit a 66 to stand a shot clear of his fellow American Cameron Young and Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas.